For sixteen years Professor Michael Alec Rose has taught a Vanderbilt course called “Beethoven and the Beatles,” motivated by the simple idea that great art knows no historical boundaries. Ludwig and the Fab Four make their music in beautifully analogous ways, designing their song structures through similar principles of economy, logic, and irrational instinct. Another thrilling correspondence between these Classic and Rock ‘N’ Roll masters is their shared devotion to the musical traditions that inspired them in the first place. Rose will discuss these various connections and even draw comparisons with one of William Shakespeare’s sonnets.

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Friday, September 14, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Victoria & Albert Museum, Room 46a, London, England
The Casts Courts and Music
Free Performance
Using the extraordinary backdrop of the V&A’s cast courts as inspiration, internationally acclaimed violinist Peter Sheppard Skaerved and virtuoso horn player Carly Lake will deliver a special performance to mark the start of the London Design Festival 2012.
This performance will include works by Bach, Biber, David Gorton and Michael Alec Rose.
Jointly organised with The Royal Academy of Music
More information:http://www.peter-sheppard-skaerved.com/2012/03/cast-courts-new-project-at-the-v-a/

October 14, 2012
One Day University: 12 Professors
(including Michael Alec Rose)
Midtown Hilton Hotel
New York City
More information: www.onedayu.com/events/detail/48

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Nightcap Series Concert
featuring the music of Michael Alec Rose
The composer providing commentary (8:00-8:25p.m.)
Performance of two works (8:30-9:20 p.m.):

Special project in honor of my first mentor, Leonard Murphy
(Bala Cynwyd Junior High School, 1972-1974):
Commission from the Suncoast Concert Band (Robert Stoll, director)
for a new piece to celebrate the band’s 80th anniversary:Sun-coaster
Premiere in Sarasota, Florida on March 10, 2013
(There’s a solo for Mr. Murphy, who plays principal bassoon)

•WORKS IN PROGRESS:

Five Maeterlinck Songs
Premiere in Paris, France
June, 2013
Tony Boutté, tenor
On the same recital, Dr. Boutté will also be premiering the new critical edition of
Gabriel Fauré’s ‘La bonne chanson’

Civil Disobedients for solo piano
Commissioned by Zubin Kanga for his international concert tour in 2013-2014

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Performance of Dr. Johnson and Mr. Savage (duo for violin and cello) at the National Portrait Gallery, London, “Only Connect” Exhibition, September 30, 2011

Premiere of Hopeful Monsters (for strings), concert for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, Wilton’s Music Hall, London, October 1, 2011

Three performances of Burlesques Before the Ark (Piano Quartet, 2010-11):
—Blakemore Piano Trio, with guest violist Kathryn Plummer. Blair School of Music, October 25, 2011
—Concert Series at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, November 10, 2011 (faculty players).
—Peabody Institute of Music, Baltimore, January 23, 2012 (faculty players)

Two further premieres at the Blair School of Music, October 25, 2011:
—Hopeful Monsters (a version of the above piece, for unaccompanied oboe), performed by Roger Wiesmeyer
— Opened Ground for cello, performed by Felix Wang

“Paganini in Nashville:” Guest Artist Recital, Peter Sheppard Skaerved, violin, co-director (with Michael Alec Rose) of the Blair / Royal Academy of Music Exchange Programme.
Includes the world premiere of Michael Alec Rose’s Air.
Onstage in Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music, Monday, September 19, 8:00pm. Admission is free.

Works in Progress:
—String Quartet No.5
—“Seens of Inchantment” : A Natchez Trace Odyssey(commissioned by the Natchez Trace Parkway Association in collaboration with the Nashville Symphony; to be premiered in 2013 at various venues, including Schermerhorn Symphony Center)

Pemiere of Five Bucolics: A Cycle of Songs on Poems by Maurice Manning, at University of Miami, November 21, 2010. Tony Boutté, tenor; Alan Johnson, piano. Audio samples at “Have a Listen. . .” below, right)

Book, Audible Signs: Essays from a Musical Ground from Continuum Books (Aug. 26, 2010) “A vivid, expressive, and innovative study of how the great composers in classical and rock music deploy subtle musical signs in ingenious ways.” See tab above (Book: Audible Signs) for full description.